Carolina Cabrales, 17, speaks about the robbery she witnessed that ended with a concealed carry gun owner shooting the robber dead on the 2700 block of West 51st Street in Chicago. (Brian Nguyen, Chicago Tribune)

Carolina Cabrales, 17, speaks about the robbery she witnessed that ended with a concealed carry gun owner shooting the robber dead on the 2700 block of West 51st Street in Chicago. (Brian Nguyen, Chicago Tribune)

Police say charges are unlikely against a licensed concealed-carry gun owner who shot and killed a robbery suspect after he threatened a worker with what turned out to be a paint gun in Gage Park on the Southwest Side over the weekend.

"The Chicago Police Department is wrapping up its investigation and charges do not appear likely," the department said in a statement.

Police say Reginald Gildersleeve, 55, walked into the Agencia Mexicana at 2701 W. 51st St. around 7 p.m. Saturday. A customer was making a financial transaction with a worker at the store, which also serves as a currency exchange, when Gildersleeve, wearing a mask, announced a robbery and pulled out a gun, according to Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for Chicago police.

Gildersleeve and the customer "got into some kind of confrontation" and the customer pulled a gun and fired, hitting Gildersleeve several times, Guglielmi said. At least two workers were inside at the time, a 55-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, but no one else was hit.

Several law enforcement sources said Gildersleeve had been holding a toy gun, and one source said it was a paintball gun.

Gildersleeve had a lengthy arrest history, including at least one for robbery, and was out on bond from an unrelated incident from Oct. 23, according to police. He lived about three blocks from the store.

Police referred the case to the Cook County state's attorney's office to "determine if there's any reason to charge" the 44-year-old customer, who had a concealed carry permit and a firearm owner's identification card, Guglielmi said. Police also reviewed video surveillance.

Photo gallery: Concealed carry shooting in Gage Park

(John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The department released a statement Sunday night saying charges were unlikely.

A man who identified himself as the shooter's brother declined to comment Sunday, saying the family was doing OK but had been through a traumatic time and wanted to keep things private.

The stepson of the suspect expressed anger and frustration, saying he doubted the police account.

"Something doesn't seem right," said Igbinosa Oronsaye, whose mother was married to Gildersleeve. "Reggie doesn't even own a gun. He couldn't own a gun if he wanted to."

Oronsaye said he wasn't convinced the shooter acted properly.

"Some people don't actually know how to use guns," he said. "They go to firing ranges, but it's not the same as a bullet going into someone's body, it's not the same as a bullet going into flesh. They should be able to wound first, kill next. He didn't deserve to get shot multiple times.

"You just took a brother, you just took a father from a lot of people. Somebody's got to answer for that."